Disclaimer: I, of course, do not own Gravitation, Murakami Maki has that honor.

AU My take on what might have happened if Shuichi had not managed to get there in time to save Reiji from Yuki. Manga Vol. 9.

Chapter 14

Ryuichi was nearly delirious. He wouldn't have to be alone anymore. He had finally found someone who was like him, with the same interests, a similar personality, and someone he loved with all of his heart.

From the very first moment he had seen Shuichi his heart had given a crazy lurch. Sure, he had wanted to sing that night when he walked up on that stage, and he had used the excuse of saving the other singer's butt, but what he had really wanted was to get a better look and to stand on stage next to the boy. He just wasn't the type to want to help the competition on a whim, no matter how cute they looked on the stage.

Even now his heart still gave those crazy leaps every time he looked at his love. Months of agony watching while that idiot Yuki Eiri treat him badly, watching that beautiful spirit get crushed time and time again had nearly made him insane. He had always tried to be there for the other singer, being a friend, cheering him up, but never daring to show his true feelings. He always held the hope that eventually he would be seen as something other than a friend.

But, he knew that no matter what Shu said right now Yuki was still in the picture.

"When are you going to tell him Shu?" The question just seemed to slip out on its own and as soon as he asked he wished he could take it back. He had promised himself that he wouldn't pressure. He was almost afraid to look atthe other singer'sface. "I'm sorry. You don't need to answer that." When he finally dared to look, he saw only a small smile gracing perfect lips.

"Let's get something to eat before we go back, we can talk inside."

He allowed himself to be pulled into the nearest restaurant. He had to help Shu with the menu and ended up ordering rib baskets for both of them.

"You know before I came here Yuki had broken up with me to be with Seguchi. At least that's the way he made it look. I was so surprised when he turned up here. The truth is, I'm not sure there is anything to break off." A sudden grin lightened the young man's face, "Don't worry Ryu it will happen but Yuki and I are going to need to talk."

Hefelt slightly reassured, but he didn't like that 'talking' partand decided to change the subject. "So have you thought what you want to do when you get back? Are you going to go back with Bad Luck?"

"No, I really don't think I could go back to working for Seguchi again, if I live through this. I was kinda hoping to get your input. I was thinking of coming back here permanently, well not to New York, there are too many bad memories. I thought Los Angeles, maybe. It all depends."

Once again he felt his heart pounding, "On what?"

"On what you want to do."

Tohma walked into the hotel nearly in a daze. The worst had finally happened. Eiri had somehow remembered. He had worked for years to prevent this. It was just a good thing he didn't know the entire truth, a memory wouldn't tell that he had paid Kitazawa and had set up the whole thing in the first place. There was no doubt in his mind who to blame for all this, Shindou. If Eiri hadn't have come here after the little bastard he never would have been raped again. It was surely the newest rape that had brought on the memories.

He had come to realize that his own life didn't matter much anymore. Any chance he might have had at getting Eiri to be his lover were now gone. He had lived so many years with that as his main goal nothing else mattered. Eiri was gone, Mika was gone, and his baby was never more than a dream. Right now he couldn't even drag up enough emotion to care.

Walking with his eyes firmly planted on his toes the sudden cry of "Tatsuha!" barely registered in his muddled brain. The voice sounded familiar but right now he couldn't seem to make any sort of connection. It wasn't until a group of people stepped into a private elevator that he realized the voice belonged to Mika.

There was fear and disgust on her face as their eyes met. The look told him all he needed to know, he really had lost everything. As the elevator doors closed in his face he finally realized that all of his life he had been just a little too little, a little too late.

At least the encounter had cleared the cobwebs clinging to his brain. With a new purpose he headed back to his room. The first call he made was to an old friend here in New York, calling in a favor. If he couldn't have Eiri, no one else would either.

The phone rang severa times before a gruff male answered and he didn't even stop to identify himself. "Can you get a gun into a courtroom?"

Chilly laughter sounded when he hung up the phone.

The next time Yuki awoke his attorney was sitting next to him. "It's about time." He spoke in his customary grumble, but secretly he was just glad it wasn't Seguchi.

"I was in a meeting."

He didn't fail to notice the glance Sugiama gave him out of the corner of his eye. "You found him didn't you?"

The man let out an agitated sigh, "No, my people didn't find him."

"Seguchi, did that bastard get to him?" He was nearly out of the bed in panic and Sugiama was also on his feet.

"That's not what I meant Mr. Yuki." The man was waving his hands and shooing him back down onto the bed. "Please lie back down."

"Then you had better fucking tell me exactly what you did mean."

"Mr. Shindou was found."

He didn't realize he was holding his breath until it all left in a rush. "Where is he?"

"It's a long story. He was found by Hiroshi Nakano, Tatsuha Uesugi, and Ryuichi Sakuma. He was working as a keyboard player in a club here in Brooklyn. They managed to get him to go back to their hotel."

"So he's all right? Can you safely get him here?"

Now the man looked away completely, "I'm more than a little embarrassed to say this Mr. Yuki but we seem to have lost him again."

"WHAT! How the hell could you lose him!" Once again he was nearly out of his bed and this time he had the guards looking in the door. If his trial wasn't tomorrow he would fire the incompetent ass. Taking a few deep breaths he was able to get himself back under control and settled back onto the bed. "Tell me what happened."

"We received a call from a Mr. Claude Winchester informing us that Shindou had turned up. We sent two of NYPD's most trusted detectives to the scene. Unfortunately, Shindou caught sight of the men before the introductions could be made. Apparently he and Ryuichi Sakuma both dove out of a window to get away. Now, they are both missing."

"Shit!" It was really all he could think to say and it seemed to fit anyways. That was probably their only real shot. The fact that Sakuma was missing too barely registered. At least he knew his Baka was still alive.

"It was my understanding Mr. Yuki," Sugiama interrupted his thoughts, "that you had called me here in regards to your recent injuries?"

"I have changed my mind. I will be filing charges. So, I hope you're ready to take my statement."

"What the hell were you thinking!" Hiro and K yelled almost in unison as he led Mika, Alex, and Anna into the room. Mika immediately took the baby who had started to fuss from all the loud noise.

"What was I supposed to do?" Tatsuha fired back, "She's my sister. She's running from Tohma too!"

"She can't be here right now Tatsuha, you know why." Hiro looked like he was going to start throwing his fists again.

"Bullshit! She deserves protection too. Besides, Tohma has already seen us." Tatsuha looked defeated as he sank to the sofa.

"So, we're just going to sit here and let them walk right into the fire then! What have we done all this for!" Hiro looked like he wanted to kill as he ranted and paced the room.

"Just calm down Nakano, I'll put a man to watchSeguchi's door. He won't be able to go in or out without us knowing." K made a quick grab for the phone.

Hiro gave another wild laugh, "He could always jump out the window. Your men aren't too good at handling that."

"What is going on here?" Mika finally commented looking very confused.

"Might as well tell her, she's going to find out anyways." Tatsuha gave an unconcerned shrug. "And, K, while you're on the phone, you might want to order up a couple of more beds."

"We found Shuichi." Hiro finally spit. At the same time the door opened admitting the two detectives.

As they approached the hotel Shuichi started having second thoughts. Gripping Ryu's hand tightly he pulled them to a stop. "We don't have to go back. We could always just go to California now."

Ryu's gentle eyes turned to him, "You've been so brave," a hand reached up to caress his face, "you need to do this and we both know it. When we move to California, together, I don't want anything hanging over our heads. I want a clean break for both of us."

"So, that is what you want, to go to California with me?"

"Shu, I already have a house set up there. Remember, I only came here for what was basically a visit. I met you and wanted to stay. I think you will love Los Angeles."

After another kiss he took a deep breath and allowed Ryuichi to lead him back into the hotel. They used a side entrance with Ryuichi's key and made sure they weren't seen getting into the elevator. He was nervous but Ryu never let go of his hand.

The elevator doors opened and they stepped almost unnoticed into what was almost a melee. If Ryuichi hadn't been standing behind him, he would have backed out again. Arms wrapped around his shoulders to keep him in place.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!"

Shu had to clamp his hands over his ears, Ryu's trained voice cut above the din and nearly put out his eardrums. Instant silence dropped over the room and all eyes turned to them. He barely had time to register that Mika was there and another strange man before Ryu pushed him into the bedroom, slamming and locking the door.

"What's she doing here, she'll tell Tohma? She's always been a snitch." He could hear the tremor in his own voice.

He was pulled into the other singer's arms but still couldn't seem to stop shaking.

"I'm sure she wouldn't be here if it wasn't safe love. K wouldn't allow it."

"We could still just go." He allowed the tears to come and the stress started getting to him. He could still hear yelling from the other room.

"I want for you to lie down and rest for a minute. I'll go find out what's going on. Just don't…don't leave Shu."

He managed to snag an arm before the man could get off the bed, "No, bring K in here, only K."

Ryu gave a small nod and left the room. He did lie down; he needed to get himself under control.

There was still pure chaos in the front room when he walked out. And, once again his entrance wasn't noticed. Most of the yelling seemed to be between Tatsuha and Hiro. Walking over to K he was able to coax him into the other bedroom. "He's going to run again if this doesn't stop and this time neither one of us will come back…ever. Now, tell me, why is Mika here?"

"She left Seguchi. She's running from him too, I'm not sure why yet. If Nakano and Uesugi would stop fighting long enough maybe I could find out."

"Why are they fighting now? Surely not over Shu and I again?"

"No, it's because Uesugi brought Mika here and got caught by Seguchi."

"FUCK! That stupid…" He stormed out of the room.

Tatsuha was standing toe-to-toe with Hiro. Without even thinking he yanked Hiro back by his shirt and slammed his other fist into Tatsuha's nose, knocking him to the floor. "Get out Uesugi, take your sister and get out. You knew what was at stake here. You got your petty revenge and now I'm getting mine. You wanted him to run again but you need to remember, if he goes, I go. You won't get me back!" He did manage a glace back, "Sorry Hiro." He threw the apology before heading back to Shu.

When he got back into the room he found Detective McClean sitting on the bed talking to Shuichi, who did seem calmer now.

"Hey baby," he took a seat on the bed too, only just holding back the jealousy at the sight of Shu on the bed with another man, "better now?"

"Yeah, some. Ryo was just explaining about tomorrow's security plans.

"Ryo?" He looked to the detective who nodded.

"My partner is Dee. I know who you are."

The man must have guessedhe was uncomfortable with him sitting on the bed with Shu and quickly got up to go sit on a chair.

"He could file assault and battery charges you know." Ryo was giving him a hard stare.

"Let him." He stared down at his slightly swollen knuckles which were also starting to ache. He didn't remember ever hitting anyone before.

"Ryu, what did you do?"

"Decked Tatsuha. He brought Mika here and Tohma saw them. It's my suite, I told them to get out."

"No," the vehemence of Shu's plea startled him, "He's hurting, you know that. He's in-love with you."

A knock at the door interrupted any more debate and a teary-eyed Tatsuha peeked his head in the door.

"Ryuichi, I'm sorry," the boy sobbed, "I didn't think how it would affect Shuichi. I only knew that she needed help and I gave it. Please don't make us leave now. Mika's afraid that Tohma wants to kill her too. She didn't know where else to go."

"Come in Tatsuha and have a seat. We'll talk."

Woot a record number of reviews this time. I would like to thank everyone who took the time to let me know how they think the story is going.--buff200020002002,animegirl12182, Jen-Tao07, qwerty54, Bloody Dead Rose, Aki Kotasho, and Remmy Wolf.

I certainly appreciate everyone's continued reviews and support.